University of Jyväskylä

About: University of Jyväskylä is a education organization based out in Jyvaskyla, Finland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Neutron. The organization has 8066 authors who have published 25168 publications receiving 725033 citations. The organization is also known as: Jyväskylän yliopisto & Kasvatusopillinen korkeakoulu.

EPS09 - a New Generation of NLO and LO Nuclear Parton Distribution Functions

Abstract: We present a next-to-leading order (NLO) global DGLAP analysis of nuclear parton distribution functions (nPDFs) and their uncertainties. Carrying out an NLO nPDF analysis for the first time with three different types of experimental input -- deep inelastic $\ell$+A scattering, Drell-Yan dilepton production in p+$A$ collisions, and inclusive pion production in d+Au and p+p collisions at RHIC -- we find that these data can well be described in a conventional collinear factorization framework. Although the pion production has not been traditionally included in the global analyses, we find that the shape of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm dAu}$ of the pion $p_T$-spectrum at midrapidity retains sensitivity to the gluon distributions, providing evidence for shadowing and EMC-effect in the nuclear gluons. We use the Hessian method to quantify the nPDF uncertainties which originate from the uncertainties in the data. In this method the sensitivity of $\chi^2$ to the variations of the fitting parameters is mapped out to orthogonal error sets which provide a user-friendly way to calculate how the nPDF uncertainties propagate to any factorizable nuclear cross-section. The obtained NLO and LO nPDFs and the corresponding error sets are collected in our new release called {\ttfamily EPS09}. These results should find applications in precision analyses of the signatures and properties of QCD matter at the LHC and RHIC.

Neuromuscular adaptations during intensive strength training in middle-aged and elderly males and females.

Abstract: Effects of progressive heavy resistance strength training combined with explosive types of exercises for 12 weeks on electromyographic activity (EMG), muscle cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris (QF), isometric maximal force and force-time curve of the leg extensor muscles were investigated in 9 middle-aged males and 9 females in the 50-year age group (M50; range 44-57), (F50; range 43-54), and in 10 elderly males and 11 females in the 70-year age group (M70; range 64-73), (F70; range 66-73). Great gradual increases took place in maximal force during the 12-week training period both in M50 (from 2834 +/- 452 N to 3941 +/- 772 N; p < 0.001) and in F50 (from 2627 +/- 725 N to 3488 +/- 1017 N; p < 0.001) as well as in M70 (from 2591 +/- 736 N to 3075 +/- 845 N; p < 0.01) and in F70 (from 1816 +/- 427 N to 2483 +/- 408 N; p < 0.001). Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) increases occurred also in the maximum integrated EMGs of the trained muscles in all groups primarily during the first 8 weeks of the training. Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) enlargements took place during the 12-week training period in the CSA of the QF muscle in all groups. Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) shifts occurred in all groups in the shape of the absolute force-time curves and the maximal rate of force production increased (p < 0.05-0.001) during the training as well. The present findings suggest that progressive heavy strength training combined with explosive types of exercises may lead to considerable increases not only in maximal strength but also in explosive force production characteristics of the trained muscles accompanied by adaptations in the nervous system as well as by muscular hypertrophy not only in middle-aged but in elderly males and females as well.

The GREAT spectrometer

Abstract: The GREAT spectrometer is designed to measure the decay properties of reaction products transported to the focal plane of a recoil separator. GREAT comprises a system of silicon, germanium and gas detectors optimised for detecting the arrival of the reaction products and correlating with any subsequent radioactive decay involving the emission of protons, α particles, β particles, γ rays, X-rays or conversion electrons. GREAT can either be employed as a sensitive stand-alone device for decay measurements at the focal plane, or used to provide a selective tag for prompt conversion electrons or γ rays measured with arrays of detectors deployed at the target position. A new concept of triggerless data acquisition (total data readout) has also been developed as part of the GREAT project, which circumvents the problems and limitations of common dead time in conventional data acquisition systems.

Maximal isometric muscle strength and functional ability in daily activities among 75-year-old men and women

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze whether functional ability in daily activities among 75-year-old men and women is predicted by physical activity, isometric muscle strength and simple function tests. In this representative sample of a general population of 405 75-year-olds, isometric muscle strength and functional ability in daily activities were closely related (odds ratio of disability 1.2–2.1), stressing the importance of strength in the truncus, proximal and distal muscle groups for daily activities. There were strong correlations between physical activity, isometric muscle strength as well as simple function tests and ability to manage daily activities. Those with even light physical activities at least 2–4 h a week had significantly better functional ability than those with sedentary activities. Those with heavy physical activities further improved their functional abilities.